Ashley Judd Opens up About Painful Past in New Memoir

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The 42 year-old actress opens up in dark new memoir "All That is Bitter & Sweet"

Updated at 10:41 AM EST on Tuesday, Apr 5, 2011

In her frank and unflinching new memoir "All That is Bitter & Sweet," actress Ashley Judd reveals that life in her famous family was anything but glamorous.

"My mother, while she was transforming herself into the country legend Naomi Judd, created an origin myth for the Judds that did not match my reality," Judd claims in the book.

The truth was, according to the 42 year-old actress, much darker. Judd describes being shuffled among various relatives as a child, being left in the company of drug addicts and dubious family friends, and even sexual assault.

"I was taught to believe that our lifestyle was normal and never to question it or complain," writes Judd. "Even when I was left alone for hours, sometimes days at a time, or when I was passed without warning to yet another relative."

The memoir was written with the consent of Judd's mother and sister, claims the actress, despite the fact that it reveals some unflattering family secrets.

"My mother has read the book. I certainly gave it to my sister. I don't know if she's read it yet, but she absolutely supports what I've done," the actress said in an interview with USA Today. "I gave everyone ample opportunity to be familiar with the text."